ROTATION OF CROPS. 55 



must do a little engineering, he must have a plan of his 

 garden drawn to a scale, say one-third of an inch to the 

 foot, and on three distinct sheets lay out the plans for 

 spring, summer and autumn. As to the nature of these 

 plans, the reader may get some hints from observation 

 of the practice of good market gardeners in his vicinity 

 or elsewhere. Now, presupposing that the spring plant- 

 ing of the private gardener comprises every thing season- 

 able, the question naturally arises what shall he sow as 

 a succession to his spring planting ; for be it clearly un- 

 derstood, it is only by keeping up in the garden a never 

 ceasing course of sowing of seed, gathering of matured 

 crops, and re-sowing on the same ground, without any 

 waste of time, that the garden can be practically made 

 to pay its cost in dollars and cents. With a less intense 

 system of administration and culture it may pay well, 

 in the pleasure derived from the contemplation of rural 

 subjects and in increased health consequent upon inter- 

 esting and moderate outdoor labor, but unless the course 

 of rotation is well thought out and practically put into 

 effect each fruit or vegetable will cost double its price 

 in the stores. Of course the climatic location has every- 

 thing to do with the policy adopted, as in the Gulf 

 States the practice is quite distinct from that of the 

 Carolinas, and in the Carolinas equally distinct from 

 that of the corn and wheat growing districts of the East 

 and West. In fact, in each section of each State dis- 

 tinct policies are pursued as to periods of sowing, and as 

 to choice of varieties. 



As an aid to the amateur in the Middle and West- 

 ern States we will say that peas may be followed by cab- 

 bage for early autumn use, also by beans, tomato and 

 celery plants. Onions by kale, turnip and winter rad- 

 ishes. Spring spinach by beans and tomatoes. Spring 

 radishes by cabbage, for early autumn use. Lettuce by 

 beans and tomatoes. Beans by kale, turnip, winter rad- 



